Catamenial belt



CATAMENIAL BELT Filed Sept. 25, 1937 FL W. ONE/LL Pff? A TTO/PNEVJPatented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED vs'rii'rlazs PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved catamenial appliance, and thepresent application for patent constitutes a continuation-impart of anddiscloses several improvements over and above my invention on a similardevice for which application for patent was led on July 10, 1936, SerialNo. 89,942. p

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a moredefinite and positive means for maintaining the absorbent pad in desiredpositionin `the belt while, at the same time, not interfering with thecomfort of the wearer in any way.

Other objects include means for providing a 1.5 'sanitary readilycleaned apparatus and one which is light but strong and composed of aminimum of parts.

.Another and still further important object of the invention is theprovision of special means'for retaining the pad in desired position onthe support or belt, one such fastening means being a more or lessintegral part of the belt while the Y other includes a removablesnap-fastened element. f

A still further'improvement disclosed in the presentv invention is theprovision of reinforcing stays in the belt near theends thereof, thepurpose of which is to prevent the belt from twisting and possiblyturning upside down in wearing.

R0V A still further objectA is to provide a belt in which fasteningmeans such as pins or the like are eliminated and wherein bunching ofthe ends yof the pads is prevented, and all of which is found quitedesirable inasmuch as this belt will, accord- 5 ingly, lie quite hat andbe unobservable through even the thinnest of dresses or similar apparel.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be'apparentfrom the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following speci- 40cation.

Theinvention, in a preferred form, is shown in the drawing andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of the improved catamenial belt of thisinvention, showing an absorbent pad in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the padded portion of the belt,illustrating particularly the novel improvements incorporated thereinto.

Figure 3 is a rlongitudinal section of the structure of Figure 2,showing a pad in position on the belt.

kFigure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,1ooking in thedirection indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail view, parts being broken (Cl. 12S-289) away,showing the absorbent pad in position on the belt and illustrating theimproved means of fastening the same by fastening clips which grip thegauze wrapping of the pad but do not contact the pad itself. 5

Asshown in the drawing:

The reference numeral I0 indicates generally the belt portion of theimproved catamenial appliance of this invention, which belt portion is.usually of some elastic fabric and which may or 10 may not be providedwith an adjusting means such as a buckle or the like.

Fastened to and depending from the belt portion I0 are front and rearstraps or supports I2 and I4 respectively which are preferably of rubl5berized fabric and are integral with the actual supporting portion I6 ofthe appliance which is adapted to hold an absorbent pad I8 in properposition with regard to the body of the wearer.

Fastening means for the absorbent pad are 20 provided which, in oneinstance, are somewhat similar to the fastening means illustrated anddescribed in my previous application hereinabove referred to, the sameincluding snap fastener elements 20 and 20a and 22 and 22a respectivelyas 25 best shown in Figure 2.

The snap fastener portions 2D and 22 are affixed to the belt portionproper, and the corresponding fastener elements 20a and 22a are affixedto a short length or strip preferably of the 30 t same material as thebelt as indicated at 24.

This strip is attached to the belt by means of a string or cord 26 so asto prevent its being accidentally lost or misplaced.

As best shown in Figure 5, the pad element 28 35 is held in position onthe belt structure by fastening the snap fastener or clip elementstogether through the gauze which forms a part of the Y fabric, andunderneath which the pad is simply passed or slipped when it is appliedto the belt.

Additionally, the belt is provided with cross 59' braces or stays 32 and34 respectively which are of some fairly stiff material such as lightmetal or whalebone or the like, and which act to prevent the belt fromtwisting or possibly turning Aupside down during wearing and which, atthe 55 same time, are suii'iciently disposed toward the ends of the beltso that they will not interfere with the comfort of the wearer in anyWay.

A unitary binding or edging 36 is provided around the edges of theunder-strap element I5, this being for moisture-proofing and supportingpurposes.

It will be evident that herein is provided an appliance of the classdescribed which is particularly advantageous in that it provides denitesupport for the absorbent pad While, Aat the same time, producing astructure which is practically not noticeable While being worn while4it,

can be put into actual use with a minimum 'of time and effort.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied throughout a Wide rangewithout departingffrom theprinciples of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limitingthe patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the priorart.

I claim as my invention:

A catamenial appliance, comprising a main elongated strap of waterproofmaterial for supporting an absorbent pad, cross strips adjacent each endof the strap, said cross strips being fastened at their ends to theVedges of the strap and being separated from the strap over theirintermediate portions for retaining an absorbent-pad there-beneath, oneof said cross strips having its ends permanently attached to the strapand the other of said cross strips having its ends removcross staysincorporated into the strap at the Vends thereof 'beyond the crossstrips, said cross ably fastened to the strap, and a cord Connected ltoone end of said removably fastened strap to V`provide against loss,together with reinforcing

